South Africa: Language board recognises Khoi Nama language

[Francis Hult]

Via lgpolicy...
 
Language board recognises Khoi language
August 29, 2008, 06:45
  	
The Pan South African Language Board (Pansalb) in the Northern Cape has given recognition to the Khoi Nama language, by including it in the province's draft language policy. Pansalb, together with delegates from the various provincial governments, deliberated on the various clauses that will be implemented in the language policy. Nama belongs to the Khoi language family and is spoken in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa by three ethnic groups namely Nama, Damara and Haillom. Although this indigenous language is not recognised as one of South Africa's official languages it is taught at 12 schools in the Northern Cape. The language has grown over the years and Pansalb hopes that it would finally get the recognition it deserves with its inclusion in the language policy. 

The board hopes to table the draft policy to the provincial legislature next month and thereafter it will start monitoring its implementation. The Pansalb manager in the Northern Cape, Boichoko Moremi, says "we can not afford to have policy that will gather dust but one that needs to be implemented with the purpose of changing people's lives". Representatives from the provincial Education Department say promoting multi-lingualism will be an advantage to the learners and increase the province's Matric pass. Principal of the Petrusville High School, Johnny Snyers, says a strong bilingual approach which will be commendable. 

Communities will be awarded the opportunity to test the clauses in the language policy during public hearings that will be held in the province. 

 

http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/general/0,2172,175969,00.html
_______________________________________________
Edling mailing list
Edling at lists.sis.utsa.edu
https://lists.sis.utsa.edu/mailman/listinfo/edling
List Manager: Francis M. Hult